English · KJV
H4119

מֹהַר

môhar /mo'-har/ Ask about this word
Rootfrom מָהַר
Meaninga price (for a wife)
KJV usagedowry.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of môhar — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Hebrew word môhar, represented by H4119, refers to a price (for a wife); dowry. It is a specific term that appears 3 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. The word originates from מָהַר and signifies the payment or compensation given to a father in exchange for his daughter's hand in marriage.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, H4119 is central to marriage negotiations and legal statutes. When Shechem desires to marry Dinah, he offers to meet any price, saying, "Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me" Genesis 34:12. The term also appears in a legal context in the Mosaic Law, which stipulates that if a man seduces an unbetrothed virgin, he must "pay money according to the dowry of virgins" if her father refuses to let him marry her Exodus 22:17. In a different context, King Saul subverts the expectation of a monetary payment by telling David he does not desire a dowry, but rather the foreskins of one hundred Philistines 1 Samuel 18:25.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the transactional nature of the môhar:

  • H7235 râbâh (to increase): This root is used in Shechem's plea to "Ask me never so much dowry," highlighting that the value of the môhar could be made great or abundant depending on the negotiation Genesis 34:12.
  • H4976 mattân (a present; gift): This word appears directly alongside môhar in Genesis 34:12, suggesting that additional gifts could supplement the formal marriage price.
  • H8254 shâqal (to pay, weigh): This verb describes the action of settling the dowry obligation. It is used in Exodus 22:17 where the man "shall pay money" according to the standard dowry, linking the môhar directly to a weighed or measured payment.
  • H3701 keçeph (silver, money): This noun specifies the form of payment for the môhar. In the law, the dowry is equated with a payment of money Exodus 22:17, confirming its function as a financial transaction.

Theological Significance

The cultural significance of H4119 is seen in its function within legal and social frameworks:

  • Marriage Price: The môhar establishes a formal, transactional basis for a marriage agreement. It represents a price paid to the bride's father, as shown by Shechem's willingness to give (H5414) a dowry and gift for a wife Genesis 34:12.
  • Legal Standard: It serves as a benchmark for legal restitution. In Exodus 22:17, the "dowry of virgins" is the required fine, demonstrating that the môhar was a recognized and standardized value within the law.
  • A Negotiable Price: The value of the môhar was not always fixed. It could be increased Genesis 34:12 or even substituted with a non-monetary price, as when Saul requested a payment in the form of slain enemies instead of a traditional dowry 1 Samuel 18:25.

Summary

In summary, H4119 is a precise term defining the price paid for a bride. While infrequent in scripture, its occurrences reveal its importance in the social, legal, and transactional dimensions of marriage in the Old Testament. It functioned as a negotiated payment, a legal standard for compensation, and a custom that could be adapted for purposes beyond a simple financial exchange.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Hebrew Old Testament, this word appears as a noun across 3 occurrences, inflected in 2 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it.

  • מֹהַר
  • מֹהַר

Related Words

Related

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

H7235 רָבָה a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake H4976 מַתָּן from נָתַן; a present; gift, to give, reward. H8254 שָׁקַל a primitive root; to suspend or poise (especially in trade); pay, receive(-r), spend, [idiom] throughly, weigh. H3701 כֶּסֶף from כָּסַף; silver (from its pale color); by implication, money; money, price, silver(-ling). H5414 נָתַן a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, a

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 39 books. Most frequent in Genesis, Exodus, and 1 Samuel (1 verse each); never once in the other 36.

1
Genesis
1
Exodus
1
1 Samuel

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.